JUNE 4, 2001

Toyota heads overseas

HAVING completed its third test at the Circuit Paul Ricard, former home of the French Grand Prix, Toyota has packed up its Formula 1 test team to sample a new circuit.

Toyota's experienced test driver Allan McNish, who will race Toyota's first F1 car in 2002, completed 200 laps over four days at Paul Ricard, bedding in its so-far tricky handling and working on tire setup with Michelin as well as trying out a new cooling system on Toyota's all-new V10 engine. "We made some improvements with the chassis, which made the car feel more stable and better to drive," he said.

The team will now go to Vairano, where the first direct comparison can be made with this year's competitive cars as several teams, including fellow Michelin runners Williams, Jaguar and Benetton, have also tested there so far this year.